Data Center Chief Engineer - ORD

Responsibilities 

Leadership & Team Management 

• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of facility technicians, ensuring high performance, accountability, and professional growth. 

• Oversee shift coverage, work assignments, and resource allocation to maintain site readiness and operational reliability. 

• Conduct performance evaluations, deliver coaching, and support career development for direct reports. 

• Foster a culture of safety, compliance, and teamwork across all operations. 

• Report staffing performance, issues, and needs to the Site Operations Manager for alignment with organizational goals. 

Operations & Compliance 

• Ensure all operations comply with company policies, safety standards, and regulatory requirements. 

• Review and approve Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs), Methods of Procedure (MOPs), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and Emergency Operating Procedures (EOPs). 

• Conduct audits, inspections, and training to maintain operational readiness and compliance with Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). 

• Support compliance efforts with ISO 27001, PCI and SOC 2 Type I standards. 

• Provide regular operational updates to the Site Operations Manager for transparency and site alignment. 

Facility & Systems Oversight 

• Oversee the operation, maintenance, and performance of electrical, mechanical, HVAC, and fire life safety systems. 

• Approve and prioritize preventative and corrective maintenance activities in the CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System). 

• Ensure documentation, reporting, and system logs are accurate and complete. 

• Analyze performance trends, identify risks, and drive preventive solutions to maintain uptime. 

Incident Management & Escalations 

• Serve as the primary escalation point for abnormal conditions, incidents, or system failures at the site. 

• Escalate unresolved or high-impact issues directly to the Site Operations Manager for awareness and decision-making. 

• Lead root cause analysis, corrective action plans, and post-incident reporting. 

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance resilience, reliability, and operational maturity. 

Customer, Vendor & Stakeholder Engagement 

• Act as additional site-level point of contact for customers, vendors, and contractors on technical and operational matters supporting the SOM. 

• Coordinate vendor and contractor activities, ensuring safety, compliance, and adherence to scope. 

• Support customer requirements, installations, and escalations with professionalism and urgency. 

• Partner with the Site Operations Manager and internal teams (IT, Operations, Projects) to align facility operations with business needs. 

Planning & Reporting 

• Develop and manage maintenance schedules, work orders, and capacity plans to ensure long-term readiness. 

• Review and approve daily shift reports, turnover notes, and incident documentation. 

• Track spare parts, and inventory to optimize resources and reduce downtime risk. 

• Provide regular reports and operational updates to the Site Operations Manager and senior management. 

Minimum Qualifications 

• Associate degree, technical degree, equivalent military training required or equivalent experience 

• 5–7 years of experience in data center, critical facilities, or mission-critical environments. 

• 2-3 years in a supervisory or lead role. 

• Strong technical expertise in electrical, mechanical, HVAC, and fire life safety systems. 

• Experience with CMMS, BMS, and other monitoring tools. 

• Proven ability to lead teams under pressure, manage escalations, and deliver results in high-availability environments. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Industry specific certification(s) 

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (Mechanical/Electrical) 

Skills 

• Leadership and people management skills with a focus on team development. 

• Strong problem-solving, root cause analysis, and decision-making capabilities. 

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills. 

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, CMMS, and reporting tools. 

• Ability to work flexible hours, including weekends, holidays, and on-call rotations as required.